Ontario Medical Students Association (OMSA)

04/06/2024

Hey C2025! I am sharing on behalf of OMSA’s Advocacy Partnerships subcommittee: the opportunity to support the Decent Work and Health Network (DWHN)’s campaign!

Last year, funding for the Physician and Hospital Services for Uninsured Persons (PHSUP) program was cut. This essential program ensured everyone who lived in Ontario had access to healthcare, regardless of insurance status. The termination of PHSUP removed a safety net to thousands across the province, leaving those without insurance with no access to healthcare and leading to preventable suffering. OMSA continues to support the campaign and we would love to have more dedicated medical students join the cause!

You can contact your MPP here: https://www.decentworkandhealth.org/healthcare4all

Check out Healthcare4All Coalition on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HealthForAllNow

Join the DWHN here: https://www.decentworkandhealth.org/joinus

Health workers advocating for decent work

03/11/2024

March 11 marks the beginning of Ramadan. Here's what you need to know to support Muslim medical students this month

03/11/2024

The Ontario Medical Students' Association is asking for your valued input as an Ontario medical student to help inform the direction the organization should take in the long-term by completing the 2024-2028 Strategic Plan survey!

Surveys completed by March 24th 11:59 PM will be eligible to win the $100 and $20 gift cards. Additional details are at the end of the survey.

Complete the survey here: https://qualtricsxms8p7vlyg8.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eVzUeZ8J8Dqg5Dg

03/07/2024

📢 Featuring Maham Rehman, our first Student Highlight of the year

🌟 Swipe to see all the incredible advocacy work Maham has done as a medical student!

What is Student Highlights? This is an initiative to highlight medical students who have made a significant and unique contribution to their school community. Stay tuned for our next call for nominees!

03/01/2024

01/16/2024

OMSA is excited to announce the seventh annual MSERG Call for Applications in partnership with the AMS Healthcare, OMA Insurance, and TD Canada Trust. The 2023 MSERG Awards will provide grants valued at $5,000 each to fund twelve projects designed by Ontario medical students. The deadline to apply is March 29th, 2024.

Please feel free to contact omsa.mserg@gmail.com if you have questions.

Application Form: https://forms.gle/WUEh9Brfd85xUBxy8

01/13/2024

Navigating the school year can be overwhelming, but you’re not alone! Check out these 8 mental health tips from OMSA to help you conquer the challenges ahead 💪📚

01/06/2024

Explore our latest paper addressing gaps in the undergraduate medical quality improvement and patient safety (QIPS) curriculum ⤴️📚

12/11/2023

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THE OMSA MED RETREAT!

On behalf of the Ontario Medical Students’ Association (OMSA) Med Retreat Committee, we invite you to join us for the Annual OMSA 2024 Med Retreat that will be held in-person at Bayview Wildwood Resort, providing students the opportunity to rest and recharge with fellow Ontario medical students! Prepare to chill and experience a Polar Reset at this amazing retreat.

The OMSA Med Retreat Committee has planned a series of interactive activities in order to maintain physical, emotional, mental and social health amidst the many demands of medical education. You can expect to do outdoor activities such as snowshoeing, skating, & cross-country skiing, while cozying up to a bonfire with s’mores. There will also be creative activities such as soap making and social events such as karaoke and board games. This weekend is the perfect getaway for connecting with other medical students across Ontario.

**There is a limited number of tickets to be sold so registration will be open on a first come first served basis. The first cohort of tickets are at early bird pricing until December 31st so make sure you don’t miss out!**

Please register at this link: https://forms.gle/v1j4VhotW2m8fQFJA

More details about the Med Retreat are found below:

Date: Feb 2-4, 2024
Location: Bayview Wildwood Resort (1500 Port Stanton Pkwy, Severn Bridge, ON)
Cost: $200 [includes 2 nights of lodging, all meals (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners), and all programming at Bayview Wildwood Resort] valued at $500+
Transportation: Carpooling will be arranged for attendees
Be sure to follow @‌omsamedretreat for the most up-to-date information about the retreat! The link to registration can also be found in their bio.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to the OMSA Med Retreat Committee at omsaretreat@gmail.com.

11/28/2023

📢 ‼️ We’re excited to announce the launch of our Student Highlights initiative! Know someone who made a significant and unique contribution to their school community? Nominate them now on https://omsa.ca/en/sots-nominate 🌟

📢 ‼️ Nous sommes ravis d'annoncer le lancement de notre initiative "Student Highlights" ! Vous connaissez quelqu'un qui a apporté une contribution importante et unique à sa communauté scolaire ? Soumettez son nom dès maintenant sur le site: https://omsa.ca/en/sots-nominate 🌟

11/20/2023

We are extremely excited to announce that the 2024 OMSA Med Retreat will take place at Bayview Wildwood Resort on Feb 2-4, 2024! Get ready to chill out with your fellow med students ❄️⛄️

Follow @‌omsamedretreat on Instagram for details on registration, event schedule, and activities. We can’t wait to see you there! ⛷🎄

11/14/2023

Interested in medical education research? Abstract submissions are now open for OSMERC 2023! The Ontario Student Medical Education Research Conference (OSMERC) was established for students, by students, and aims to provide a platform for research in the areas of medical and health professions education.

Submissions open: November 13th - December 01, 11:59 PM EST
Submit here: https://forms.gle/EZ419vybMt5YSWHr6
Date: January 21st, 2024
Time: 9:00 A - 4:00 P (EST)
Location: Chestnut Conference Centre (89 Chestnut St, Toronto, ON M5G 1R1)
Please reach us at osmerc@omsa.ca if you have specific questions about the types of abstracts featured in OSMERC.

11/14/2023

Passionate about a topic that you want OMSA to talk about? Take the next step and submit a position paper proposal to OMSA! Submissions will be accepted on a rolling basis with a final deadline of February 28th, 2024 @ 11:59pm.

All topics are welcome for submission. If your topic is accepted, we will contact you with regards to next steps.

https://forms.gle/Q5j8RKuj9b1Stefv9

11/09/2023

As a medical student, your feedback is important! Your experience offers important insights that should be represented and will guide us to serve you better.

The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) is seeking members to participate in our upcoming qualitative research. We are looking for feedback on how to better support and serve OMA members' needs to provide tailored products and services.

We are convening a series of 1:1 interviews (30 mins) and small group discussions (75 mins) over Zoom. Responses will be completely confidential with reporting anonymized.

If anyone is interested and available between November 13th and November 30th, please reach out to rebeca.lewy@oma.org by November 13th with the subject line: OMA Qualitative Research.

09/30/2023

In light of the recent announcement from the provincial government regarding the Greenbelt land controversy, OMSA stands firmly committed to advocating for solutions that both address the ongoing housing crisis and preserve Ontario's natural heritage, as demonstrated by our Day of Action in April 2023. We recognize that inappropriate or excessive development on Greenbelt land can serve to exacerbate the housing crisis, resulting in short-term gains and long-term losses. OMSA also understands that removal of the protected wetlands as well as farm lands may result in adverse environmental and agricultural consequences. We urge policymakers to engage in responsible urban development and support initiatives that provide affordable and inclusive housing, whilst safeguarding the Greenbelt as a valuable environmental asset.

09/30/2023

Every year, on September 30th, we observe both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. These significant occasions serve as a tribute to the children who never returned home and to the Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. They also stand as a poignant reminder of the systemic erasure of Indigenous peoples and their rich culture. On this day, we also pause to recognize the missing and murdered Indigenous women who have been denied the justice they deserve. Orange Shirt Day, a grassroots initiative led by Indigenous voices, aims to shed light on the enduring intergenerational impacts of residential schools on individuals, families, and communities. It carries a profound message: "Every Child Matters." The orange shirt, worn on this day, symbolizes the cultural, personal, and spiritual losses suffered by Indigenous children over countless generations.

At the Ontario Medical Students' Association, we acknowledge our status as settlers on this land. We understand that the path of truth and reconciliation is a personal journey that necessitates recognizing and educating ourselves about both the historical and contemporary experiences of Indigenous peoples. With solemn commitment, we pledge to stand as allies in this ongoing journey towards healing and justice, taking proactive measures to bring about meaningful change.

Supports:

Former residential school students can call 1-866-925-4419 for emotional crisis referral services and information on other health supports.
Indigenous peoples across Canada can also go to The Hope for Wellness Help Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Call the toll-free Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the online chat.

09/24/2023

Recently, anti-transgender demonstrations have been held in several cities. This animus against trans and other LGBTQ+ people is deeply harmful and divisive to our communities. We believe that every person deserves compassionate and equal treatment regardless of their sexual and gender identity. OMSA stands in support of the LGBTQ+ community and their rights.
The Canadian Mental Health Association offers free talk support to any LGBTQ+ youth at 1-800-268-9688.

09/16/2023

Are you a learner interested in advancing health equity and social justice? Our partners at Decent Work & Health Network are hosting a group discussion. It is an opportunity to learn more about advocating for healthcare for all, given the recent March 31st, 2023 cuts to healthcare insurance for people without status. Event will be on Sept 17th 12:30pm-1:30pm ET at Church Street Espresso, 585 Church St, in Toronto. RSVP Here:

Health workers advocating for decent work